Separation

Gabby found herself falling more in love with JC everyday and every night. During day, he was her friend and protector. At night, he was her tender lover, surprising her with the things he could make her feel. Her life had been so cold until he filled it with his warmth – and that warmth drew her like a moth to flame. It couldn’t continue. She realized this life of freedom was on loan. As soon as her father tracked her down, she would return to her sterile world – and she would have to leave JC and his wonderful caring behind. It would rip the heart right out of her chest.

What would her being snatched from his arms do to JC? He never professed any love for her, but he did care. He had become attached to her. The others even teased him about his “little princess.” How ironic he had chosen that particular pet name for her! JC took the teasing good-naturedly, quipping they were just jealous. He was going to be terribly hurt when she disappeared without a word. Most probably she would be taken away without being allowed to say good-bye.

Gabby decided she had better wean herself away from JC before he had the opportunity to form a more permanent bond – the bond of love. No matter how it hurt her, she had to spare him.

JC was disbelieving when he walked in while Gabby was removing her belongings from his room. Since before they were lovers, she had always shared an adjoining room or his room. “Where do you think you’re going,” he demanded.

“I have decided to change roommates. I am moving in with Lance,” Gabby told him coolly.

But she had been his from night one! “Why?”

“It is awkward for me now.”

“The hell it is. We’re lovers, for God’s sake!”

“We should not be.”

“Bullshit! You enjoy it as much...”

“I never said I did not.”

“Then explain this to me.”

“It is simple. Lance and I are not lovers.”

“That explains nothing.”

Gabby sighed, taking his hands. “We should not be lovers. It is not fair to you, mon ami. I believe we would form emotional attachments that would be painful.”

She was saying they could end up in love? – The thought wasn’t as frightening as it had once been. “Why painful?”

“Because I am not free to fall in love.”

“So, I’ll be your booty call if you get horny, is that it, princess?” he asked belligerently.

Gabby shook her head. “I would never treat you in such a manner. I respect you too much.” Reaching up, she kissed him softly.

With that, she removed herself from his every waking moment.

“Where’s Gabby?” Chris asked when the bus pulled out.

“She moved in with Lance,” JC grumbled as he slumped into a seat.

“Uh-oh.”

“Uh-oh what?”

“You aren’t happy about losing your little princess – she got to you.” Chris had known JC would eventually fall in love with the gray-eyed beauty. He’d seen it coming.

JC grunted. “Let Lance cook for her.”

“Which would be okay if it didn’t bother you so much.”

“Just drop it okay? She wants to be with Lance. Now she’s his problem.”

She truly missed JC, Gabby thought miserably as she stared out the bus window. She could chat with Lance and Joey. Lance, as dear as he as, couldn’t hold her interest the way JC had. She had done this for JC, so he could begin to let go.

Despite the fact he never said he loved her, he did care for her. He couldn’t be so sweet and tender if he didn’t. JC was as deep as his blue eyes – even though many times he pretended not to be. He was the sort of man who got involved; who had “relationships” – and she had to marry Alfred Von Hatten.

Lance came upon the solemn Gabby. He sat across from her and asked, “Wanna talk about it?”

She glanced over at him. “About what?”

“Why you moved in with me.”

She shrugged. “JC said I was a spoiled brat any number of times.”

“JC adores you.”

"That may be, but he does not seem to like me very much.”

“Pardon my language – bullshit. JC wears his heart on his sleeve – the kind of guy who slays dragons for damsels in distress.”

“I am not looking for a knight in shining armor.”

“That’s what you get with JC.”

Gabby trusted Lance – almost as she trusted JC. Sighing, she confessed, “For once in my self-centered life, I am trying to do the right thing for someone else. Now, I know why I have never tried before – it hurts.”

“You’re saying you left JC for his sake?”

She nodded. “I cannot stay. This is merely a vacation from my real life.

“And there is no room for JC in that life?”

“None. I must marry whomever my father chooses. Which is why I cannot let JC fall in love with me.”

Lance didn’t say it – JC was already in love.

On any given morning, JC would find Gabby before the buses departed and take her by the hand. “You’re with me today,” he’d mutter, daring her to protest. Most of the time, she didn’t. Once in a while she’d complain her things were with Lance. Not once did any argument gain her release.

Why did he do this to himself? JC wondered as he watched Gabby slowly sway to the music coming through the earphones and CD player she’d snatched from him earlier. Watching her hips grind to the unheard melody was nearly his undoing. Did she have to be so sexy without even trying? He dropped down to the bus seat to frown in her direction.

Gabby had been well aware of her audience. If he got a “boner” as the men liked to say, because she as there, it served him right after being such a bully that morning! She decided to add to his torture since he was glaring at her. Dancing over to him, she straddled his thighs and slid one hand beneath his tee shirt.

“Underneath your clothes
There’s an endless story
There’s the man I chose
There’s my territory...”

Her lips were only a fraction of an inch from his as she huskily finished.

“All that I deserve
For being such a good girl
Honey...”

JC’d had enough. Grabbing her head between his hands, he pulled her mouth to his in a hungry kiss, knocking off the earphones.

Gabby dropped the player to the seat so both hands could caress his stomach and chest.

Twisting, he put her beneath him as he stretched out on the seat, her thighs cradling his hardening manhood. “Dammit princess!” he growled. “You know exactly what you’re doing.”

“Then send me back to my bus,” she quipped.

“This is your bus, the one you should be on!”

“Why, because you decided for me?”

“No. Because I am your man, dammit!”

Gabby’s eyes went wide and the teasing flowed out of her. “You are?”

“Hell, yeah! I’m the only man you’ve shared your body with – aren’t I?”

“Oui.”

“Did you ever consider anyone else?”

“Non.”

“Am I the one who gets all those hot sweet kisses from your incredible mouth?”

“Well...oui...”

“Then I’m your man.”

Gabby reached up to lose the fingers of one hand in his dark curls. “Then I am yours.”

“Yeah...”

Tears glittered in her eyes. It may be merely lust but a man could want her for herself – not Princess Gabriella!

“Baby, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Something is very right.” She slid from beneath him to rise and extended a hand to him. “Come.”

JC let himself be led to his compartment, closing the door between them and the rest of the world. Gabby had never let him make love to her on the bus, fearing the others would hear.

“Mon cheri, je t’adore,” she whispered, nuzzling his chest.

He didn’t understand what she had said – he only knew it was sweet and sexy. Wrapping his arms around her, he held her close. “Gabby...”

She laid a finger against his lips. “Do not speak.”

So, he used his mouth in a different way. His kisses were tender, taking mere sips of her mouth.

Gabby pushed his tee shirt up to bare his chest for her lips.

“Oh, baby...” he moaned as she licked his flat nipples into prominence, then sucked at them. He held her head as she pressed damp, open-mouthed kisses down his torso. Reaching his ridged stomach, she dropped to her knees. Unfastening his jeans, she pushed them down to his calves along with his shorts. She teased his hard thighs with nibbling kisses before nuzzling his manhood and sac.

“Gabby... “ It was the sexiest, sweetest thing a woman had ever done – like her, an intriguing mix of innocence and sexuality.

She noticed that a pearly drop of his essence clung to the tip of his manhood and rubbed at the head with her thumb, surprised to find it so silky soft.

JC groaned as her hot little mouth closed around him. She licked and sucked at him, bringing him the most delicious, selfish pleasure. “Oh, God, baby!... Oh, yeah... You do that so damn good...”

She felt his body tighten and his shaft twitch, preparing for release.

“Now! Baby, take it all!” He involuntarily pushed his hips at her as he exploded down her throat.

Gabby tried not to gag as she pulled her head back. Swallowing, she let him slip from her lips.

After a moment, JC opened his eyes to see the girl sitting at his feet watching him.

“You are such a sweet thing, princess.” He rearranged his clothing, then lifted her to her feet. “Thank you. That was wonderful and unexpected.”

“I was okay?”

“You were beyond okay! Everything about making love you do exceptionally good.”

Gabby giggled. “Well – exceptionally well... and thank you. Does that take care of your...boner?”

He laughed until his eyes watered. The way she said it almost made it sound proper! “Baby, you amaze me.”

“How do I do that?”

“Just being you.”

“I can be no one else.”

“You got that haughty accent and that proper way of talking – and then you let a word like ‘boner’ pass those delicious lips.” Tunneling hands beneath her hair, he lowered his head. “Speaking of your lips...”

She arched up to meet his mouth. “JC...”

“I know you won’t let me love you here... Tonight, baby. Please, tonight after the show…”

“Impossible.”

“No, it isn’t. I swear–“

”JC, we will be in Chicago.”

JC groaned. The name of the city was like ice water on his libido. He was spending the night as his parent’s house. Something like home. He needed that comfort. He had been spending far too many nights avoiding sleeping in a bed without his little princess. “You’re coming with me. Have a bag packed,” he ordered.

“I refuse to share a bed with you at your parent’s house!”

“Don’t bust my chops, Gabby. They wouldn’t let us. Separate rooms.”

“Why then?”

“So, you know exactly what real parents are like.”

Gabby gave him a bright smile. “I believe I should like that.”

He realized there would be speculation when she arrived home with him, but he refused to leave her behind.

“You are from Chicago?” she asked.

“No, Maryland, then Orlando. My parents moved there a few years ago.”

Gabby merely nodded.

“Yo!” came Justin’s cry. “You guys aren’t doing anything nasty are you?”

JC opened the door, noticing Justin looked almost disappointed. He grinned at his band mate. “Only nasty I have is evil thoughts towards you.”

“You’re only suppose to close the door when you’re gettin’ hot and sweaty,” Justin stated.

Gabby swept by him regally. “Who said we had not?”

JC burst out laughing at Justin’s stunned, questioning expression. “Later, dude,” he said as he followed Gabby.